Archery – The Activity People Blog

Mike tries Archery at our fantastic multi activity venue in Durham

Here at Activity HQ we’re full time adrenaline addicts, so when we got the chance to master the art of archery on Easter Sunday, we polished off the last of our Easter eggs and headed straight for the target range at Archery Durham.

For the inside scoop on all the day’s action we caught up with our resident Robin Hood, Mike..

“Over the past 10 years I’ve tried most of our activities, but I’ve never got round to giving archery a go, so I couldn’t wait to finally try it.

We arrived at our Durham Archery venue fairly early, which meant we had time to squeeze in a bacon butty before our experience, and if you’ve got time I’d definitely recommend visiting the on-site café for a bite to eat.

After our butty break we made our way to the archery range where we were met by an instructor, who gave us a full safety briefing and taught us how to use the bows. Mastering the basics was fairly easy and thanks to the instructor we all knew exactly what we were meant to do – putting his advice into practice and hitting the target was another thing entirely though..

With a bit of practice it wasn’t long before we were all hitting the target, and I could definitely see an improvement because my arrows were getting closer and closer to the centre of the target. The best advice I could give is to relax, I just closed my eyes and imagined I was Robin Hood or The Arrow, and that somehow seemed to work – it’s probably best to open your eyes before firing though!

Overall the experience was really good, but what really made it for me was when the instructor decided to run a bit of a competition between us all. We’re all fairly competitive anyway, so when we got the chance to take part in a shot-off things got really interesting. It turns out watching The Arrow doesn’t automatically turn you into a master archer, but I still managed to come third which I was pretty chuffed with to say it was my first time. I was definitely a lot better than I expected.

The only thing I can really compare archery to is axe throwing or clay pigeon shooting. If you’ve tried either activity you’ll know there’s quite a bit of skill involved, and you need plenty of patience to hit the target – archery’s exactly the same. If you rush your shot you nearly always miss, but that’s all part of the fun if you’re a beginner.

Would I try archery again? Hell yeah!”

If the teams’ trip to the archery range has inspired you to grab a bow and take on the targets, we visited Archery Durham and sampled the 1 hour Archery Action package, which we can’t recommend enough! And before we sign off we’d just like to say a huge thank you to everybody at Archery Durham for an awesome day.

Archery, Air Rifles and 4×4 in Horsham joins The Activity People

Want to take part in an adrenaline fuelled activity in Horsham? Well, you don’t need to settle for just one exciting thrill, when we have 3 awesome adventures to offer at our new location in the Sussex town.

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One of the oldest sports in the world and one of the fastest growing in the UK, Horsham is your first port of call for an archery adventure that really hits the target. Our outdoor site boasts some of the most qualified archery experts you’ll find anywhere in the country, who will offer one on one tuition that will help you hit the bullseye in no time.

But this isn’t the only target challenge that we have at the site, as we have an exclusive air rifle shooting range. Not only will you be getting professional tuition throughout in order to improve your shot, you’ll also be be taking part in a variety of shooting games in order to put your new skills to the test. You’ll feel like an action hero when you hit the targets!

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But if you fancy a spot of motor mayhem instead, you’ll definitely want to get behind the wheel of one of our 4×4’s for a cracking driving experience. We have a custom built off road track that lets you zoom across all the humps and bumps in your way. If this isn’t exhilarating enough, we also offer a blindfolded driving challenge. With no sight and only your team mate’s orders to lead you in the right direction, this isn’t for the faint of heart!

These thrills are all suitable for everybody aged 10 and over.

Visit our website for more information.

12 new locations to experience Combat Archery!

Here at The Activity People, we’re in love with combat archery. We couldn’t be happier to announce that we have not one, not two, not even three, but a whopping 12 brand spanking new combat archery sites that have just joined our network. Our map of exciting locations has grown to include sites all over the UK; Liverpool, Derby, Leicester, Wolverhampton, Stoke, Chester, Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Leatherhead, Seaford and Brighton are all home to first class battlefields that are now part of our prestigious team.

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If you don’t know about combat archery, now is the perfect time for you to join in the fun. It is the only extreme sport that is suitable for all ages, as you armed with specially designed bow and arrows, before being sent on a battlefield with the only aim of the game to avoid being hit. The last player standing wins in this dodgeball style challenge, so even though our arrows couldn’t hurt a fly, you should still avoid being hit by one with all your life!

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never even picked up a bow and arrow before. Once you’ve tried this addictive sport, you’ll definitely want to return and experience it all over again. With a plethora of brand new sites located all over the country, you now have no excuse not to come on down and join us. This is the perfect sport for any occasion, so if you’re wanting a cracking corporate event, brilliant birthday party or an unforgettable stag/hen do, you’d be a fool to not make combat archery a part of your day!

Everything You Need to Know about Archery

The countdown to the Rio Olympics is almost over, and with just under a week until the start of the greatest show on earth we thought we’d fill you in on one of our favourite Olympic events – target archery.

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So without further ado here’s everything you need to know about the ancient art of archery!

1.) Archery first appeared at the Olympics in 1900, when live pigeons were used as the targets. Thankfully for the planet’s pigeon population this was the first and last time pigeons participated in target archery.

2.) The bow and arrow was originally used as a weapon, it was so effective that the earliest civilisations such as Egyptians, Persians, Greeks and Romans all used archers in their armies.

3.) The string on a traditional bow is usually made from materials such as linen, hemp, sinew, silk and rawhide.

4.) People who have the surname ‘Fletcher’ are the ancestors of arrowsmiths, or sellers of arrows. The name is derived from the word ‘fleche’, which is the French word for arrow.

5.) Splitting an arrow down the middle with another is known as a ‘Robin Hood shot’ due to the precision needed to execute this almost impossible feat.

6.) Archery is the national sport of the Kingdom of Bhutan, which is undoubtedly why all their Olympians (bar one) have competed in the sport.

7.) There are a variety of different bows used for archery including longbows, crossbows, pyramid bows, recurve bows and reflex and decurve bows.

8.) Archers in most competitions including the Olympics must engrave their initials on their arrows, which are usually made of Carbon.

9.) A traditional and ceremonial form of Japanese archery called “Kyudo” is considered to be an art form.

10.) When archers take aim at a target 90 meters away, the size of the target is equivalent to the head of a pin held at arm’s length.

To try your hand at this awesome Olympic sport visit our website.

Venue of the month for July is Archery Uttoxeter

We’re delighted to announce July’s site of the month is Archery Uttoxeter.

Over the past month we’ve received nothing but positive feedback about this spectacular archery venue, and it’s easy to see why!

Surrounded by breathtaking scenery there’s nowhere better to master this ancient art, and thanks to the team of expert instructors you’ll get to grips with the basics of archery in no time.

With top-of-the-range equipment to take aim with too, you’re bound to feel like a modern day Robin Hood – and what better way to test your newly found skills than with a series of fun competitions and games?

That’s what we think makes Uttoxeter Archery stand out, but don’t just take our word for it here’s what our customers thought..

Alan Hill – Uttoxeter, Uttoxeter, Staffordshire Archery

“Great time had. Tom our instructor was very helpful and took time to show my 8yr old how to shoot the arrows correctly.”

Chris Hammond – Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, Archery

“Tom who took us to the archery range was very helpful and instructive, and my grandson (also a Tom) and I enjoyed it very much. We both liked the competitions at the end. Being a hot day we were pleased to be offered a bottle of water each. As one of us was left handed (myself) it was good to have the option of left-handed bows.”

To take on the targets at Uttoxeter Archery visit our website here.

Introducing Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifles & Crossbows Budby – Worksop.

We’re excited to announce the latest addition to the The Activity People network is Archery, Axe Throwing, Air Rifles and Crossbows at Budby, Nr Worksop.

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Located a short distance from the spectacular Sherwood Forest this brilliant multi-activity venue is home to four exhilarating activities, and with tailor-made target ranges for archery, axe throwing, air rifles and crossbows, where better to put your accuracy to the test than the home of Robin Hood!

As well as using top-of-the-range equipment, you’ll also receive full tuition from a team of experienced instructors too, which means you’ll quickly get to grips with the basics of each target sport. Almost anybody can master these tricky target sports, and as long as participants are aged 12+ they’re great fun for families, friends and team building events.

So whether you want to experience the power and accuracy of a crossbow, the elegance of a bow or the precision of an air rifle, our Budby venue is the perfect place to take on a range of target sports.

Introducing Combat Archery London, Waterloo

We’re excited to announce the latest addition to The Activity People network is Combat Archery London, Waterloo.

160423 Battle Bows first game-1254 Located right in the heart of central London our Waterloo combat archery venue is the perfect place to experience the rush of this crazy combat sport. With a tailor-made arena to battle it out in, as well as all the latest equipment there’s nowhere better to kit up and battle it out to be the last player standing.

Specially designed outdoor arenas are packed with a whole host of inflatable bunkers and barricades to to take cover behind and plan your next attack, and once arrows start flying they come in very handy!

So if you’re aged 12+ and looking for the fun of dodgeball and archery all in one game why not give combat archery a go at our London, Waterloo venue.

Introducing Archery at Sutton-at-Hone

We’re delighted to announce the latest addition to The Activity People network is Archery at Sutton-at-Hone.

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Set in the beautiful Kent countryside this spectacular archery venue is the perfect place to master the ancient art of archery. With expert instructors to help you master all the essentials you’ll get to try your hand at two different forms of archery, which means as well as tackling traditional targets you’ll also get to take aim at a selection of foam targets that are launched into the air! You’ll also be getting your hands on top-of-the-range recurve bows too, which makes nailing the targets even easier. So if you’ve always dreamt of being a master archer there’s nowhere better to take on the targets.

To find out more about our Sutton-at-Hone archery venue visit our website.